Jenson Button was in a reflective mood after he again missed out on a podium finish at the British Grand Prix.

Having struggled behind the wheel for an uncompetitive McLaren for much of the season, the 34-year-old came within a second of sealing his first-ever top three finish at Silverstone at his 15th attempt as fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton stormed to victory.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis had told Button he needed to 'try harder' and he responded by qualifying third on Saturday in a session affected by rain.

After an enthralling race, 0.8 seconds was all that separated Button from the third-placed Daniel Ricciardo as he ran out of laps having reeled in the Red Bull in the closing stages.

But, on an emotional weekend for Button - who was sporting a pink helmet to commemorate the memory of his father who passed away in January - he felt he got everything he could out of the car.

"P4 is not so bad," Button said.

"I think we should be happy with the weekend we have had. We definitely needed it as a team. It has been a tough old year - just like last year, really.

"It is nice to get this result because high-speed circuits are not our forte really - no circuits are, but high-speed are more difficult for us.

"Today we did a good job and we have a load of information to look at for the next few races."

Button felt if the race had been just one lap longer he would have been able to haul in Ricciardo and join Hamilton on the podium.

"I definitely would have had a good go anyway," he said.

"I think I crossed the line 0.8 seconds behind him and if I would have got DRS on the next lap, if there was one, it would have been easy I think. But there you go - it didn't happen.

"Even so, we almost beat two Red Bulls and a Ferrari today so that is a step forward but still, as you can see compared to the Williams, we have a lot of work to do to improve the car."

Button was passed by his former McLaren team-mate Hamilton as the championship contender made his way through the field and, having said he would be happy to see his fellow Briton on the top step, also acknowledged he had not put up too much of a challenge.

"Congratulations to Lewis," he said.

"I said if there was one person I didn't mind winning it was Lewis, and it is fantastic for the fans and fantastic for the championship.

"I got so close to the podium and it would have been the perfect podium with Lewis up there and myself, but it didn't quite happen and it wasn't meant to be, so maybe next year.

"I didn't make it very difficult for him, to be fair. If we fought I'd lose time and he would lose time.

"The defence against Lewis wasn't a defence - it was a case of 'you're there so I will let you be there'. The other guys you fight because you are racing them."

With McLaren sporting special pink T-shirts in their own tribute to Button's father, the crowd also joined in on a special day for the most experienced driver currently racing in Formula One.

"I was giving maximum attack all the way through the race but especially the last 20 laps," he added.

"I could feel the crowd, and having a Brit leading the race and one fighting for third is pretty awesome.

"Great support from everyone, especially the family, (girlfriend) Jessie and my close friends. The whole team this weekend have been great.

"It was fantastic to see the British fans, who were supportive, but it was great to see so much pink out there in support of myself and the memory of my dad, so it was very special. I just wish we could have got on the podium."